Dubai’s hot season bargains

BANGKOK, 3 July 2012: Thai Airways International is offering the best deals for a visit to Dubai during this summer through to 30 September.

Thai Airways International’s 52nd Anniversary fares are pegged low enough to attract bookings in their own right, but when they are combined with discounts on other services in Dubai the holiday savings are attractive.

It requires an internet search of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing ‘Do More in Dubai’ campaign that offers discounts to attract travel during the hot season.

During the promotional period, families will get free accommodation plus all meals for two children below the age of 12 at 77 participating hotels for minimum of three nights.

Parents gain a 20% to 30% discount on meals in selected restaurant in the hotels.

There are also 25 attractions participating and they give free entry to two children under the age of 12 based on two paying adults. There are also shopping discounts at Dubai Mall.

Dubai-based Emirates is promoting a 50% discount on airfares for children below the age of 12 years and an additional 10kg waiver per adult on the baggage allowance.

Its fares start from Bt29,475 and Bt61,325 business class. In case of economy class, for a family of four, the fares will be Bt89,815 altogether.

Though Emirates operates four flights daily to Dubai, the bargain fare is only available on the flight that departs at 2120 flight and arrives in Dubai after midnight.

Despite the fanfare, the Emirates’ offer is a dud when compared with THAI’s 52nd Anniversary campaign fare valid until 30 September. The fare to Dubai is Bt21,450 for an adult or a child.

If four people are travelling the fares adds up to Bt85,800 which is still cheaper than the best Emirates can do.

Its business class promotional fare is also the cheapest at Bt32,990.

THAI only operates a single daily service to Dubai arriving at 1940. Whether you fly Emirates or THAI, you waste a day travelling.

There are one-stop alternatives include other Middle East carriers, Indian carriers and Singapore Airlines.

Air India is the cheapest at Bt17,530 with the most seamless connection with just three hours  in the airport. It quotes a business class fare at Bt51,630.

Qatar Airways’ fare of Bt26,425 is a good alternative considering its seamless transit time of one and a half hours. There is also the plus of a taking a night flight out of Bangkok to arrive in Dubai in morning.

Gulf Air sells a fare at Bt26,435 but with a longer  three hours downtime on the outbound journey and only one hour inbound.

Sri Lankan Airlines sells  a fare at Bt26,085 but it requires an overnight transit in Colombo, and who would want to do that when heading for Dubai?

Singapore Airlines is the most expensive at Bt34,815 and passengers will face nine hours downtime. The better connection with a downtime of one hour is on a flight that has a fare of Bt37,440. On the return journey, downtime is one to two hours.

All fares are subject to change due to currency fluctuation and are subject to availability.